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Dual purpose native food orchards that more closely resemble natural ecosystems could be established in the wake of research findings from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
The native food plant quandong has been found to have a significant parasitic relationship with another important native food plant (Acacia victoriae).
Quandong is a significant component of the Australian native food industry.
Researcher Dr Ben Lethbridge said the quandong is a partially root parasitic plant that is able to obtain water and nutrients from the roots of nearby plants by attachment of sucker-like appendages from quandong roots.
“The industry is currently devoid of sound scientific evidence for appropriate orchard hosts, but an obvious choice would be leguminous plants, which includes acacias, which are able to utilise nitrogen from the atmosphere as a nutrient source” he said.
“Eight species of semi-arid acacia currently used by the native food industry for wattle seed production were compared for their ability to support the growth of quandong. Acacia victoriae was found to be the best and coincidentally is currently recognised as the major source of wattle seed to the native food industry.
“Direct seeding quandongs next to dripper fed acacia plants would appear to be a robust system. However, significant care must be taken of the acacia plant to maintain the host parasite relationship in a healthy state.”
“Understanding the breeding systems of plants is critical to the development of rational and efficient plant improvement strategies. The diversity of natural populations of quandongs is vast but diminishing due to unsustainable wild harvest and other agricultural pursuits, and this genetic resource must be quickly utilised before they are lost forever,” Dr Lethbridge said.
Copies of most RIRDC reports can be downloaded free of charge from the RIRDC website www.rirdc.gov.au, which has more than 900 research reports on a wide range of rural industries. Hard copies can be purchased online or by phone (02) 6272 4819. A free publication catalogue is also available.
ENDS
Media inquiries
Researcher Dr. Ben Lethbridge (08) 8383 6181
RIRDC Martin Field (02) 6272 4735 or 0418 430 760
 
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